This 4.5 minute video gives you an overview of installing and configuring git, as well as how to set up your first git repository. You could try to follow along and attempt each step, but I recommend just observing for now and appreciating the simplicity of setup. Later you'll complete a tutorial that will have you perform these same steps.

Still not convinced? Need more reasons to use Git? Whether you are gearing up for a water cooler debate about version control systems, or you just want to get a better understanding of the Git philosophy and the features that implement those philosophies, this 5 minute delivers.

Part 2: Roll-Call Activity

1. Clone the following repository to your local system (password needed).

$ git clone openfe@stoney.zapto.org:sandbox.git

2. Change into the sandbox directory.

$ cd sandbox

3. Using any tools you like, inside the sandbox directory create a file named YOUR_NAME.txt (e.g., jane_smith.txt). with your bio. Using your favorite text editor, write your bio in the file (don't forget to save).
4. Select the changes you want to commit: your new file. (The following command should be issued in the sandbox directory. So if you have changed directories since step 2, please return to the sandbox directory before issuing the following command.)

$ git add stoney_jackson.txt

5. Commit selected changes to your local repository.

$ git commit -m'Added bio for Stoney Jackson.'

6. Push changes from your local repository to the remote repository (password needed).

$ git push

If git reports something like the following, you may continue to part 3:

If git reports something like the following, continue to the next step:

To ...
! [rejected] master -> master (non-fast-forward)
error: failed to push some refs to '...'
hint: Updates were rejected because the tip of your current branch is behind
hint: its remote counterpart. Merge the remote changes (e.g. 'git pull')
hint: before pushing again.
hint: See the 'Note about fast-forwards' in 'git push --help' for details.

7. Pull changes from remote into your local repository. (This may invoke a text editor requesting a message explaining the necessity of the merge. Just save the default message and exit the editor.)

$ git pull

Return to step 6, and try to push your changes again.

Part 3: Follow up

Congratulations, you have successfully contributed to a shared, remote repository!

Additional activities to give you more practice with Git.

Issue a pull command every couple of days, and see if anyone else has posted a bio, or updated an existing bio.

Update your bio. Follow steps 6-11 as necessary to commit your changes to your local repository and then push them to the shared, remote repository.

Delete your local repository and clone a new one. Confirm your changes have persisted.

Add a subdirectory with your name as its name, and add some new files inside.